Takealot elevates Tour of Good Hope

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Tour of Good Hope (Robert Ward/Tour of Good Hope)

Cape Town - ASG, owner and importer of
some of the world’s best cycling brands, has
joined forces with South Africa’s leading online
retailer, Takealot.com, to elevate the Tour of Good Hope to an international
level.

Starting with the country’s premier road cycling tour, which takes place in the
Cape Winelands from March 4-8 next year, the two industry leaders are committed
to building a product that can match similar international races.

ASG Group chief executive
Heinrich Dannhauser said they had a wonderful opportunity to transform the Tour
of Good Hope into an event that would generate an even bigger international
focus.

“As
the country’s premier road tour, it has attracted an international
field in the past and will continue to do so,”
he said after today’s announcement.

“Our
vision is to work with Takealot, as well as Cycling South Africa, to achieve
our objective of establishing South Africa’s
equivalent of the Tour Down Under in Australia.

“We
lack an international tour and, with our cyclists making big strides on the
international scene over the past few years, the timing couldn’t be better.”

SA’s
Daryl Impey won the overall title at the Tour Down Under this year and
Dannhauser felt that a high-quality Tour of Good Hope would provide a similar
opportunity for locally-based cyclists to make their mark.

He believed the Tour of Good
Hope was well positioned to capitalise on the partnership, which would see
Takealot come on board as title sponsor.

“It
already occupies an exclusive slot on the calendar. The week before the Cape
Town Cycle Tour is perfect.”

Given the date, he said, it
would be easy for South African and international riders who were already
heading to the Western Cape to add the race to their calendars.

“The
unique thing about the Tour of Good Hope is that it allows amateurs to race in
teams behind the professionals, with all the excitement and world-class
organisation that such a race brings.

“And
there are some amazing prizes for them as well,”
said Dannhauser, who expected a scramble when entries to the limited field
opened later this week.

About the partnership,
Dannhauser said ASG had enjoyed a fantastic relationship with Takealot over the
past few years.

“We
already offer some of the best brands and products to local consumers, as do
Takealot, and, with this partnership, they look set to become South Africa’s biggest online cycling store.

“They
are becoming a very visible name in all areas of South African cycling and the
support they are giving to the industry is tremendous. We look forward to
taking the Tour of Good Hope to the next level with them.”

Takealot, he said, was
recently voted as one of the country’s most trusted
brands “so this joining of forces looks like it could add real
value to the cycling community”.

“We
have been business partners for several years and have started working together
recently on several strategic cycling projects,”
said Takealot CEO Kim Reid.

“Our
sponsorship of the Tour of Good Hope is the logical next step in the
relationship and makes sense given the products, prices and service we can
offer together.

“ASG
International’s reach into global cycling and our undisputed
market-leader status in online shopping make this a naturally synergistic
partnership which we have no doubt will flourish for many years.”